How to glue foam to metal: tips

Today, polystyrene is quite actively used as a building material for the thermal insulation of buildings. It is also used for interior surfaces of premises. This is what raises the question of how to glue the foam plastic to the metal on the ceiling. Initially, the area of its application was transportation of machinery and furniture, where it acted as a sealant. Already today the foam is installed on different surfaces, including metal ones. This choice is justified, because the foam plastic is durable, it is able to keep its shape for 25 years, as for external application; But if you install it indoors, then it will last for half a century. However, to shorten the life of the material is capable of ultraviolet radiation and moisture. These factors shorten the life of almost any building material.

Styrofoam is not afraid of fungus and mold at all, so it can be used even in a moist environment, for example in cellars. The granules of a heater almost do not absorb water, however the foam plastic sometimes attracts rodents, there they equip burrows. Polyfoam does not support burning, it is safer than wood many times. In order that it does not catch fire, the temperature should be twice as high as in the case of wood. When burning, it releases less heat. The material is absolutely safe for the environment and human health.

However, there are disadvantages to this insulation, they are expressed in low strength, because the material breaks easily even with a small impact. For this reason, its surface after installation needs mechanical protection, for this purpose different mixtures are applied to the substrate, which protect against ultraviolet radiation. Having become acquainted with all these features, you can proceed to gluing the insulation to the surface of the metal, but it is also important to choose the composition that will be most effective.

Preparation of tools

If you are concerned with the question of how to glue a foam with a glue to a metal, then you can first choose the composition. Depending on which one is selected, you may need:

• drill;
• putty knife;
• comb;
• Perforator;
• bucket;
• Wide brush.

If you prefer a dry mix, you will need a drill with a nozzle in the form of a mixer. To apply such an adhesive, you can use a spatula in the form of a comb, but as a tool for work you will need a small spatula, with which you can remove excess glue.

Preparatory work before installation

If you are thinking about how to glue foam to the metal with mounting foam, it is important to know that this material can be strengthened almost to any metal. Among other things, you can use almost any glue or putty. However, you can not buy a composition, among the ingredients of which contains gasoline, acetone or any other solvent. Plates will collapse.

Another mistake that the master often makes is that the amount of adhesive used is insufficient. It is necessary to apply such compounds on the reverse side of the plates, it needs to be done in 5 places or more. First, the mixture is applied to the corners, and then - in the center. Before you glue the foam to the metal, you need to remember that the savings here are out of place. To do this, some make the composition only at three points, this is wrong and violates the technology.

Before gluing metal and polystyrene it is necessary to prepare the surface, it is cleaned of dust, old paintwork, dirt and rust. To do this, you can use a vibrating or belt grinding machine. After such cleaning, the base is degreased by any convenient means. Bonding is not a fast process, sometimes it is necessary to ensure the fixation of the material until the glue cools. First time, the thermal insulation can slide under its own weight, so it needs to be supported from below by a board or plywood.

Selection of glue for foam

If you are faced with the question of what can be glued foam to metal, then you should consider several methods, each of which involves certain material investment. The most budgetary option is considered, which provides for the use of PVA glue. If you used to perform repair work, then you may have this composition. In this case, you do not have to buy additional glue, you can use the leftovers. The secret of using PVA is the use of burlap, which is impregnated with the mixture, is laid on the metal, to which after the foam plates are glued. In this case, it will be possible to achieve high adhesion, so that in the subsequent it is possible to apply a sufficiently impressive thickness of the plaster.

Use of mounting foam

If you are thinking about how to glue the foam to the metal, then you can get a mounting foam. It not only compacts and isolates, but also differs by gluing qualities, by means of which it is possible to glue the material in places where there is no need to achieve super-strong adhesion. Foam is realized in convenient cylinders, in addition, it will not be required so much. But here it is necessary to work quickly, because the material hardens almost instantly. If you are only first time faced with the need to paste a foam, then this option can not be considered the most convenient.

Use of polyurethane adhesive

Thinking over what to glue foam to the metal, the consumer often chooses polyurethane glue, it is the most suitable for carrying out these works. The mixture is produced in convenient cylinders, but you will also need a mounting gun. If the work is individual, it is best to purchase a cheap tool, because it will not be used permanently.

If you decide to resort to this technology, then you need to follow a certain sequence of actions. The glue is applied to the surface of the thermal insulation pointwise or in stripes, the distance between the individual points should be about 7 cm or less. After waiting a few minutes for the dots to dry out a little, the plate should be gently pressed to the surface of the metal. This is just the case when the slabs need to be supported with plywood or a board. After 20 minutes, the backup can be removed.

Tips for using liquid nails

"How to glue the foam to the metal?" - this question is often asked by home masters. Experts advise them to use liquid nails, with their help you can achieve a high speed of work. The composition will almost instantly fix the metal and the plates, but the adhesion strength will be slightly less than in the case of the polyurethane mixture. You can combine materials, for this it is recommended to purchase liquid nails and polyurethane glue. The latter allows to achieve adhesion strength, while liquid nails guarantee the speed of work. In this case, you can abandon the use of backups.

Advice of a specialist

If you still do not decide how to glue the foam to the metal, then you can pay attention to such an easy way, like double-sided scotch. This option is great for a small amount of work. For large areas such an approach is very expensive, it is cheaper to buy a mounting foam.

Adhesive for installation of foam at extreme temperatures

Quite often, craftsmen are wondering about how to glue foam plastic to metal in winter. To do this, you can choose the composition WEBER THERM S100, with which you can work at temperatures ranging from -10 to +20 ° C. The material is water resistant, it can be used in any regions of Russia. The mixture is a dark gray powder, and the average density of the solution is 1.4 kg / m ³ . A kilogram of the mixture will need 0.26 liters of water. After mixing, the mixture should be used within one hour, the deformation shrinkage of the solution is 0.03%. If you decide the question of how best to glue the foam to the metal, then you can choose this particular composition, the adhesion strength of which is 1.4 MPa. The vapor permeability of the mixture is 12 mg / (h * m * Pa), whereas the frost resistance, which is expressed in the number of cycles, is equivalent to 75.

Conclusion

To improve the efficiency of the insulation, which is the foam, the specialists sometimes resort to the method of gluing the sheets together. To do this, you can use any of the above glues, but it should not contain solvents. With the same composition it is possible to strengthen the plates of foam on the work surface connected together.